Early Christian art and architecture: Sculpture

The sculpture of the stone sarcophagus was extensively practiced in Roman art and was continued into the Christian era. In some cases subjects similar to those of the catacombs were used. In others, scenes of the life of Jesus or more ceremonious compositions were created, showing the enthroned Christ receiving the homage of the apostles. In addition, ivory carvers decorated book covers and reliquary caskets or larger objects, such as the throne of Maximianus in Ravenna, a work of the 6th cent.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Eastern Traditions
• Architecture
• Sculpture
• Mosaics and Manuscript Illumination
• Earliest Works
• Bibliography

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